Monopod.



P. J. HAND.

MONOPOD.

APPLlcATloN FILED 0611,1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 19H5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor Witnesses I Attorneys P. 1. HAND.

MONOPOD.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.1,1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor www/fhg? gw y,

Witnesses Attrneys UNTTED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

i YATRICK J'. 'HAND, 0F ROCKHAM, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MoNoPon.

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. HAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockham, in the county of Faulkl and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Monopod, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed for supporting cameras vand other articles,

land one object ofthe invention is to provide novel means whereby the camera may be shifted readily to assume different positions with respect to the horizontal andthe vertical.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of this type, a supporting structure which at thewill of an operator may be employed as a Jacobs stati', as a.

tripod, or as a combination of thestructures above mentioned. y

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the.

invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken 'on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 kis a perspective showing a portion of the platform; Fig. 5 is a perspective delineating the upper end of the upright; Fig. 6 is a fragmental section showing the ground engaging prong in reversed position; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the attaching screw; Fig. 8 is a section detail illustrating the coperation between the parts shown in Figs. 7, 5' and 4. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail illustrating `a modied meansv for holding the ground engaging prong in place. n

In carrying out the present inventlon there is provided a longitudinally extensible standard embodying an outer tube 1, an intermediate tube 2, an inner tube 3 and an upright 4, .A relative ylongitudinal movement lSpecification of Letters Patent. l Patented Mal- 14, 1916 Application led October 1, 1915. Serial No. 53,607.

between the parts above mentioned being prevented'by means of set screws 5.' The upper end of the upright 4 terminates in a downwardly inclined, flattened head 6 united with the upright by means of a curved eX- tension 7. In the head 6 there is formed a slot 8 which is prolonged downwardiy. into the curved extension 7. Intermediate its ends, the slot is enlarged to form an opening 9.

The numeral 10. indicates a platforml which may constitute a part of a camera 11.

In the platform 10 there is formed an openingv 12, a portion of the material freed in other object 11, and thus the camera and the platform 10 are bound rmly on' the head 6. By loosening the screw 15, the camera and the platform may be slid along the head 6. The screw 15 may lie in that portion of the slot 8 which vis disposed in the extension 7, and under such circumstances, the camera 11 will point upwardly, in a vertical direction. By causing the platform 10 and the camera 11 to traverse the curved extension 7 and the head 6, the position of the camera with respect to the vertical may be adjusted through a wide range. When it is desired to remove the camera, the screw 15 is slid along until the shoulder 16v lies adjacent the opening 9, through which the shoulder is adapted to pass, the flattened head 17 being removed through the slot 8. It is therefore unnecessary to detach the screw from the camera and the platform,

. when it is desired to separate these elements tition 23 from which projects an earthen-1 gagingl prong 24. When the end 22 of the cap 20 is threaded onto the lower end of the outer tube 1, the prong 24 is in the depending, earthy engaging position shown in Fig. 1, but when it isunnecessary to use the prong, the prong may be reversed and be disposed within the contour of the tube 1, as shown in Fig. 1, under which circumstances, the threaded end 21 of the cap 2() will be engaged with the tube. Pivoted as 26 is pivotally mounted shown at 25 to the cap 20 is an outstanding arm 26, the lowerend 27 of which bears against the side'of the cap. Since the arm it may be folded up against the side of the cap, and be dis- I' posed in an out-of-the-way position if desired. The arm 26 exercises two functions. First, it is adapted to receive the foot of an operator, to facilitate the thrusting. of the prong 2li in the ground: secondly, it acts as a lever whereby the cap may be threaded l onto the end of the tube 1 and be removed therefrom.

n Surrounding the outer tube 1 near to its upper end' is an upper collar 28, a lower collar-29 surrounding the tube adjacent the4 lower end `of the tuba These ycollars are duplicates and but one of them need be described in detail. The lower collar 29 is flexed outwardly at its ends to form ears 30 united `by a clamp screw 31. The clamp screw 31 may be tightened up to cause the collar 29 to engage the tube 1,. Secured to the collar 29 isa side plate 32 having outstanding ears 33 carrying pivot elements 34.

` 0n the pivot elements 34 and on the clamp stances being supported on the prong 24,

only. 1f desired, the legs may be used in combination with the prong, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, the legs 436 may be used alone, under which circumstances, the prong 50.

24 is inverted asshown in Fig. 6. Any one of the legs 35 may be raised and lowered independently of the other legs, thus permit' ting a ready adjustment when the structure is used upon a sloping hillside.

It .will be observed that the partition 23 in the cap is provided with oppositely projecting lugs 50, either of'which fits closely 'within the member 1 to aid in holding the cap firmly in place. s

The device forming the subject matter of this application preferablyis made of metal fand it may be made in various sizes to meet vthe demands of the trade.v

The platform 10 maybe provided withthreadd yholes 100 which will be of yuse when a securing means differing from, or in addition to the screw shown in Fig. 7, is

v required.

In Fig. 9l of the drawings, the groundengaging prong is denoted by the reference character 101 and is carried by a reducer 102 threaded exteriorly at its smaller end as shown at 103 yand threaded interiorly at its. larger end as shown at 104;. When this *form of the invention is used, the standard is threaded both exteriorly and interiorly as will be understood readily.l 1n general, any suitable means may be provided for mounting the prong in place. .Q

The tube 3 may be telescoped iiito the tube 2 and 'the tube 2 may be telescoped into the tube 1, the upright.- being Atelescoped into the 1 tube 3. Legs 36 may be swung upunder surface ofthe head to one side of A' the slot.'

2. In a device of the, class described, a

standard embodying a lateral head having a slot extended vertically into the standard; the slotincluding an enlargement; a platform supported on the head; a securing member coacting with the platform and movable in the slot, the securing member including an enlarged shoulder engaging the head on both sides of the slot and adapted to pass through the enlargement, the securing member including a fiattened head adapted to pass through the slot.

3. 1n a device of the class described., a

tubular standard; a cap into either end of which the end of the standard may be inserted, the cap embodying a partition constituting an abutment for the standard; and

a prong projecting from the partition, the

cap being reversible to dispose the prong within the standard and in projecting relation with respect to the standard.

4f. In a device of the class described, a tubular standard ;'a cap, either end ofwhich may be assembled with the standard; and a ground-engaging prong projecting from the cap intermediate the ends of the cap.

5. 1n a device. of the class described, a tubular standard; a cap assembled, with the lower end of the standard; a prong `proj ecting from the cap, the cap being reversible on thel standard to dispose the prong within and without the standard; a pair of iso `collars removably mounted on the standard; and a foot rest for'` seating the prong in the 10 legs pivoted to one collar; braces pivoted to earth.

the other collar; and means for adjustably In testimony that I claim the foregoing assembling the braces with the legs. as my own, I have hereto aiixed my signa- 6. In a device of the class described, a ture in the presence of two witnesses. standard; a cap threaded onto the standard; Q PATRICK J. HAND.

a prong projecting from the cap; and an Witnesses:

arm extended laterally from the cap, the B. C. HAGMAN,

arm constituting means for rotating the cap C. E. SMITH. 

